The World Long Drive tagline is “This is full-throttle golf,” and this year’s championship did not disappoint.
World Long Drive has announced its return to the sport in 2023, and after a long season, three new world champions have been crowned at Bobby Jones Golf Course in Atlanta.
Ryan Riesbeck won the title of Senior Division Champion. His final drive, when he faced Robert Oristario, totaled 372 yards.
“I’ve been chasing this goal for 13 years, and I’m really happy to have finally achieved it,” Riesbeck said.
Kyle Berkshire won his third world title with a 398-yard drive in the finals against Sean Johnson. Berkshire had a season full of progress as well as shortcomings, but delivered when it mattered most.
Monica Lieving faced off against four-time world champion Phyllis Metty in the women’s final, driving 288 yards to win her first championship title. Although this was far short of Leeving’s typical distance, Metty missed the mark on all six pitches, giving Leeving the victory.
Before the World Championships, Liebing set new personal bests with club head speed of 195.2 mph and ball speed of 187 mph. These numbers are faster than most PGA Tour players.
2023 World Long Drive
All three players won using the 48-inch Kinetixx Velocity LD30+ shaft. Riesbeck and Liebing used Callaway Paradigm Long Drive heads, and Berkshire used Cobra Aerojet Long Drive heads.
All three champions train at One Stop Power Shop in North Carolina under the guidance of Bobby Peterson. Peterson has coached all three athletes for several years, and these victories came with a lot of sweat and tears.
To learn more about the sport, visit Worldlongdrive.com.
